Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-31

That being true, it would seem to be the
hight OF folly to check the decline by
coerciye measures that will arouse anew
the spirit Of resistance and disorder. The
bill amounts to the establishment of
censorship over press and speech, and as
Parnell puts it, is calculated not to prevent
or cure crime, but to drive it beneath the
surface, and so make it stronger and more
dangerous.
Balfour, the promoter of the new coer-
cion bill, did not hesitate to declare in the
House that the intention of the Govern
ment is to abolish trial by jury in Ireland.
We can we'll understand the tumult that
followed such a declaration, and the
gestures of Indignation on the part of
Gladstone and Morley 1t is something of
more than ordinary responsiveness in bill
that leads the Pal Mall Gazette to say
"that measures such as that proposed sub
ject nation to arbitrary interference with
elementary liberties and rights"
OF course Mr.. Gladstone will leave I'M
tried no legitimate expedient to call to-
gether his party once more, and make it
unit in favor of pacifcation of Ire
land by the grant of home rule. Yet
it must be conceded that this
distinguished stateoman would not
commit himself to such denunciation of
the Government policy without being well
fortified by facts, and except convinced of
the wisdom of his own plans. That popu-
lar sympathy for his position is rapidly
growing in this country is unquestioned.
The Irish issue is receiving thought in the
United States now of very different char
acter from that of the popular current
few years ago, when the Irish were led to
such excuses as antagonized the sentiment
in this country that abhors lawlesSness and
dynamite methods
Viewed from this distance, the calm
American must conclude that England's
coercion policy is political folly, and will
fail. The plea is made in defense of CO.
ercion that Mr.. Gladstone, who now OPP
poses it, in 1881 advocated it. But six
years, and conditions in Ireland have made
the situation of 1887 wholly dissimilar to
that of 1881. Moreover, the coercive
measures he advocated, and all those tried
since, have been flat failures, and if the
Tories have not, Gladstone has learned by
experience. The scheme he stood for so
bravely in 1881 was coercion, but it had
much to excuse it. TWAS projected in the
face of lawlessness, dynamite plots, assassi-
nation and disorder-yet it failed. Then
came the aforementioned Forster scheme
for pacifying Ireland with club, and it
was tried until all the jails in the island
overhowed, and the scheme failed. Next
the Trevelyan idea was projected. That
involved the trial of offenders outside of
the atmosphere of their home sections.
But the plan lived scarce long enough to
be named after its originator.
Temporary suppression was secured by
all these devices, but to-day the world finds
the Irish spirit as rebellious and defiant as
ever, and great deal wiser and more dis
Greet. 1t, too, has learned by experience,
and contents itself with methods less law
less, but no less annoying to the English
Government So, as Mr.. Gladstone shows,
there is less crime in Ireland to-day, be-
cause there is more wisdom; and now, if
ever, is the time to treat with that in
structed spirit before another turn of the
coercion wheel dethroneS caution and
gives rein again to lawlessness and re-
bellion.